Academic Acceleration Academy
1990 Jefferson Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43211
Phone: 614-298-4742
Fax: 614-298-9107
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Faculty and Staff
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Mr. Brian Terrell - Chief Academic Officer
Prior to coming to Academic Acceleration Academy, Mr. Brian Terrell was a high school principal with Columbus City Schools. Mr. Terrell was excited for the opportunity to help students become highly educated, prepared for leadership and service and empowered for success as citizens in a global community.
Mr. Terrell has spoken to many groups on leadership and student academic achievement. He completed his undergraduate studies at Ohio University and graduate studies at the Ohio State University.
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Ms. Tracy Spikes - Administrative Assistant
Tracy Spikes is a Columbus, Ohio native. Upon graduating from Walnut Ridge High School (Go Scotts!), she began working for Nationwide Insurance as an Office Assistant. In 1999 Ms. Spikes moved on to begin working for Columbus City Schools as a Secretary, and she most recently was hired by Academic Acceleration Academy.
Ms. Spikes enjoys working with teens and adults of various social backgrounds and looks forward to providing quality, meaningful service at Academic Acceleration Academy.
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Jamie Otteson
Jamie Otteson just moved to Ohio recently from Arizona. After teaching for three years in Arizona her husband's job moved their family to Ohio and Mrs. Otteson is very happy about the move. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Ottawa University and knew when she was younger that she wanted to be a teacher. She believes that all students have a lot of potential in their lives and just need to be shown the way. She is looking forward to helping all the AAA students find their full potential.
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Abby Skon
Abby Skon graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Women's Studies. She worked as a Case Manger at an alternative school for several years. She recently received her M.Ed in School Counseling at Wright State University. She is looking forward to working with the students at AAA. In her spare time, she likes to travel and spend time with family and friends (including her dog and cat)!
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Mr. Emby Miller - Student Services Director
Emby Miller MS, LSW is Director of Student Services and Outreach for the Academic Acceleration Academy. His job is to provide information, resources and referrals for student support services. Mr. Miller comes to the AAA from Ohio University where he served as Assistant Director of Diversity Initiatives and Community College Partnerships. In that role, he helped to increase the numbers of low-income minority and underserved students in the educational pipeline at Ohio University. Mr. Miller is also a consultant on parent and family or engagement and K-16 policy issues for several local organizations in Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. Miller has made a great impact within the community. Some of his most notable work included a project funded by the U.S Department of Education to operate a statewide Parent Information and Resource Center. He has served in other key leadership roles throughout his 16 year career, such as Director of Education and Youth Services with the Columbus Urban League.
While serving as a Director at the Urban League, Mr. Miller partnered with Columbus Public Schools and the United Way to establish a Virtual High School, an online environment for the distant learner. Most importantly, he has demonstrated commitment to helping students and their parents navigate through the college-application process by establishing the Urban League's first College Access Resource
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Mr. Bruce Smith-Career Based Intervention
Bruce Smith graduated from Northland High School in Columbus, Ohio and went on to The Ohio State University where he graduated in comprehensive Social Studies Education. He then went on to receive his Masters of Education from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Smith taught Social Studies and Occupational Work Experience at Northland High School for a combination of 35 years. Mr. Smith also coached football, wrestling, baseball, and girls softball during his tenure at Northland. After retirement, Mr. Smith began substituting for several Central Ohio School districts, and was very excited when the opportunity to obtain a permanent teaching position at Academic Acceleration Academy became available. Mr. Smith has a passion to work with young adults and help direct them in their future decision making process.
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Joseph Casey Smith
Joseph grew up in a family of educators. He is excited to work with young adults and follow in his parent's educator footsteps. Joseph graduated from Ohio University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
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Erica Swisher
Erica Swisher is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University with her Masters in Education. She graduated from OSU in 2010 with a degree in English. She is excited to begin her teaching career with the Academic Acceleration Academy.
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Deborah Brown
Deborah Brown embodies the essence of service & gratitude. She hails from North Carolina and brings that real hospitality to her family, community and life. With more than twenty-five years experience with Columbus City Schools, she has placed her stamps upon each of her designated assignments. Deborah believes that opportunity is missed by most people because it's dressed in overalls & looks like work. The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling uncomfortable and unhappy. At that moment of true discomfort, we are likely to move from our rut & begin searching for ways or truer answers.
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Pete Maneff
Mr. Maneff a graduate of West High School and The Ohio State University has served as an Administrator/Teacher in secondary curriculum and workforce development for over 35 years with the Columbus City Schools. Prior to coming to the Academic Acceleration Academy Mr. Maneff served as the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
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J.J. Young (Jerald)
Mr. J.J. Young believes that every student is already an intuitive scientist, and that the job of a science teacher is to make those skills more precise and mathematical, along with showing the history of what humankind has learned through science. Mr. Young is an experienced educator, with 14 years of experience teaching in a variety of settings. He received his Bachelor's degree in Physics from Bowling Green State University and a Master's degree in Math, Science and Technology Education from The Ohio State University. He believes his greatest strengths as a teacher are in working with students one-on-one or in small groups, and in developing hands-on activities to illustrate ideas in science. Mr. Young is the father of two boys, and a big fan of movies, strategy games, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Karen Gohringer
Prior to coming to the AAA School, Ms. Gohringer worked with Columbus City Schools for over 10 years as a Curriculum Project Manager. This experience allowed her to work with students, teachers, and administrators district-wide to promote individualized learning in order to advance students' educational goals. Ms. Gohringer was instrumental in creating programs such as the Columbus Virtual High School and the Expanded Learning Opportunities. These programs have helped improve CCS's standardized test scores and graduation rate.
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